Ipoh Cafe Series – Vanity Haus Boutique Cafe

A cafe unlike any others in Ipoh; Vanity Haus is a boutique spa salon & training centre coupled with a quaint cafe occupying the living hall with enough space for 4 square tables

Wow. My apologies for missing the daily Ipoh cafe fix this Chinese New Year season. Getting my rhythm back on track to work can be a real chore; terrifying ordeal even, especially after almost a week of eating, drinking and be merry.

But then again, life goes on. And since we are only 6th day into the new year; who says we should not continue to have fun, ‘lou sang’ and celebrate the dawn of the Year of the Horse?

After a battalion of Ipoh cafes covered under the series, let’s look at one that mimics a home the most; without a proper menu and serving sinfully good chocolate brownies.

A touch of glam, arts, cultural clash of elements and hospitality; Vanity Haus does not hold back on the interior decorations. Just marvel at the floral motives on the wallpapers, table clothes and masquerade party masks on the wall.

Vanity Haus is not your average cafe. In fact, nothing about this home-cum-salon-cum-cafe screams conventional or boring. From the outside, this single storey bungalow appeared more to be a retail premise; understandable since this is a salon after all. But upon entering the compound, you have to press the door bell and enter through the main door facing the side. The wooden display cabinet with a mix bag of knick-knacks and ornaments (including Santa Claus figures, artificial potted flowers and bottles in all shapes and sizes) greet you before you’re ushered into the main dining area.

Goes without saying that the Dutch family running the place has a taste for the elegance and at times, quirky influences.

Raisin & Almond Brownie (RM8.50/USD2.60)

It was relatively quiet that afternoon; obviously the homecoming crowd have not discovered this place, or maybe everyone’s busy preparing for the reunion dinner on the same evening. A plus point for us, since we almost had the cafe to ourselves. Ordering our food was not an arduous task either; without a menu in sight, the young man (the son, probably?) came over and recommended savouries like sandwiches or sweets like their brownies; that come in 4 flavours – Peanut Butter, Cranberry, Raisin & Almond and Chocolate Chips (I think, as the last one evaporated from my mind amidst the slew of cafes that ensued).

The peanut butter brownie was a darn addictive and decadent affair; while the raisin & almond version had more contrasting bites and texture due to the ingredients embedded. Both were excellent brownies in their class; moist, dense and fudgy without being overly cloying. The sweetness level was adjusted well; and devouring the desserts with a cup of black coffee or Earl Grey tea (Dilmah tea bags) soothed the soul and any pent up stress within.

They do various savoury mains as well; but just so happened that during that odd hour (about 3 – 4pm if I am not mistaken), nothing’s available from the hot kitchen. Since the cafe opens from 12pm onwards daily except Wednesdays, breakfast is a no-go but high tea should be of perfect timing. After all, there are not many cafes around that opens during the odd hours (in between meals), serve really home cooked fares and prices that won’t set your pocket on fire. Or heart skips a beat.

The front facade of Vanity Haus; don’t worry as you can also park by the side of the road on the grass patches

VANITY HAUS BOUTIQUE CAFE (Facebook page)8, Jalan Keliling,Canning Garden, 31400 Ipoh, Perak.Tel No : +605-541 2047
GPS : 4.60314,101.112513
Business Hours : 12 pm – 10.30 pm, closed on Wednesdays
Right before you reach the Canning Garden roundabout if you’re coming from Ipoh Garden’s direction, look to your RIGHT and you shall see this cafe near to the roundabout. Take a 6 o’clock at the roundabout and you will reach the front of the place.